The Al Khoziny school, located in the East Java town of Sidoarjo, some 772km east from the capital Jakarta, collapsed when its foundations could not support ongoing construction work on the upper floors, cratering upon dozens of students who were praying and trapping them under rubble.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson with the disaster mitigation agency, said in a statement that 59 people remained trapped, based on the school's list of absences and missing person reports filed by families.
Rescuers found no signs of life on Thursday after calling out the names of the victims and using motion detectors and scanners to track movements or vital signs, search and rescue agency official Emi Freezer told Reuters.
The death toll was also confirmed to be five after data from hospitals were verified on Thursday.
In signature orange uniform, rescuers crawled through narrow tunnels to find students trapped under rubble, according to photos distributed by the agency.
"We can't let our minds wander. Maybe there is still hope for our little brothers," a rescuer said.
A crane has been deployed on Thursday to lift light, unconnected debris, Freezer said.
Authorities have said the building was two storeys but two more were being added without a permit.
Police said the old building's foundation was apparently unable to support two floors of concrete and collapsed during the pouring process.
On Wednesday evening, hundreds of family members who anxiously awaited news of their loved ones at the boarding school since they heard the incident on Monday. They filled the school's corridors with mattresses to sleep provided by local government with sufficient food, snacks and drinks.
"I can't give up, I have to believe that my son is still alive, he is a hyperactive boy... he is very strong," said Hafiah, who uses one name.
Her son, Muhammad Abdurrohman Nafis, is 15 and in the ninth grade.
She recalled that he ate his favourite satay rice with gusto when she visited him Sunday, a day before his friends told her Nafis had been hit in the collapse.
with EFE and AP
